“I do not accept the referendum card. The questions are so overwhelming, the level is so high that I would be ashamed to vote in this referendum,” said Wojciech Hermeliński, former chairman of the National Electoral Commission.
Media sympathetic to the opposition, as well as Polish public life figures, have often expressed their displeasure with the referendum announced by Law and Justice. There were even calls for a boycott.
Boycott of Hermelinski
The group of people who announced that they would not participate in the referendum initiative was joined by the former chairman of the NEC, retired judge of the Constitutional Tribunal Wojciech Hermeliński.
I do not accept the referendum card. The questions are so overwhelming, there is such a level that I would be embarrassed to vote in this referendum
he explained.
The case of Hermeliński’s boycott is so shocking that the former head of the PKW should be a positive example of participating in the vote. In addition, a few days ago, Hermeliński presented a guide at the opposition event “Tour de Konstytucja”, showing how not to participate in the referendum.
READ ALSO: ONLY WITH US. Hermeliński’s shocking “guide” on how to torpedo the referendum: “It could be unconstitutional”
The former chairman of the National Electoral Commission revealed the motivation behind his decision
I wouldn’t call it a referendum, it’s a kind of plebiscite: would you rather be rich and young or old and poor? The content of these questions is shocking and it would be funny if it wasn’t so cleverly presented. This is such a primitive, vulgar cunning, because basically everyone sees it
said Hermelinski.
Break the law?
According to him, the referendum questions “offend the intelligence of the voters” and the whole action is intended to attract more voters to vote.
Hermeliński endorses by name the boycott of the referendum and recommends not picking up the card with referendum questions or even blatantly tearing it up, despite the fact that according to art. 248 of the Penal Code, such destruction of election or referendum documents is punishable by up to three years in prison. However, according to Hermeliński, this provision does not apply to the referendum.
The retired Constitutional Tribunal judge assured that he would not accept the ballot paper in the referendum.
I would be ashamed to vote in this referendum; you can choose not to take such a card and by not taking this card you are not taking part in the referendum
– Hermeliński summed up emphatically.
Comments
Many people on social media referred to the statement by the former chairman of the National Electoral Commission, including Patryk Jaki, Member of the European Parliament from Sovereign Poland, who highlighted the political involvement of a lawyer who took part in opposition demonstrations.
Judge Hermeliński recently took part in the Tusk march and the total opposition. According to Art. 178 seconds 3 of the Constitution, a judge (…) may not engage in any public activity inconsistent with the principles of the independence of courts and judges.
So if anyone breaks the constitution, it’s him. In addition, the boycott of the citizens’ referendum by the former head of the PKW will go down in history as a disgrace
Jake wrote on Twitter.
Hermeliński proposes a referendum question – whether the Palace of Culture and Science should be demolished. It was meant as a mockery, but I like the question
wrote one Twitter user.
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pn/tvp.info/TVN24/Twitter
Source: wPolityce